Fah Thai Sep-Oct 2019

OVERTURES
A TASTE OF THAILAND
Soak in Sukhothai’s Local Secret
If you’re in search of a slower pace of life, then
“Ban Na Ton Chan” is the place to wind down
in traditional Thai style. Tucked in Sukhothai’s
Si Satchanalai district, this tiny village offers the
chance to witness the weaving of Khit fabric
with ancient Phikun flower patterns, basketweaving,
making of wooden toys, and the
traditional dying of beautiful designs using mud.
You can also take a stroll through the
orchards, soak in the lush green of paddy fields,
enjoy a bicycle ride around the village and breathe
in the pure, pollution-free air. For a longer stay,
visitors can opt for a cosy homestay and get
first-hand experience of community-style living.
No visit to Ban Na Ton Chan is complete
without a bowl of its signature “Guay Tiew Phra
Ruang” (Phra Ruang noodles), known locally as
“Khao Perb”.
The word “Perb” comes from the northern
dialect meaning “to fold”. Khao Perb, much
like Khao Griab Pak Mor or Steamed Rice-
Skin Dumplings, is made by spreading fresh
rice-flour mixture on a thin white cloth
stretched over a clay pot. The thin crêpe is
cooked by the steam from the pot below,
before it is topped with assorted vegetables
such as cabbage, bean sprouts, morning
glory, glass noodles or fillings of your choice.
The pot is then covered until the fillings are
cooked, before the crêpe is folded over to
create a dumpling.
The dumplings are placed in a bowl along
with minced pork, then a hot, aromatic pork
broth is poured over them. However, this
delicacy is not complete without a steamed
sunny-side-up egg. The steamed egg is simple
to make – just break an egg on the white
cloth, cover it until cooked and then place it
in the bowl of soup. Top your steaming bowl
of noodles with finely-chopped spring onions,
coriander and seasoning of your choice and
slurp it up!
WORDS SARITA URUPONGSA INFORMATION & PHOTOS TOURISM AUTHORITY OF THAILAND
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